Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-11-09
Apple Culture.

Every farmer who has suitable land
and climate shonld endeavOr to raise
apples enough for a home supply,
says the New England Farmer. The
question of growing for market Is one
OF special adaptation. The home sup.
ply can be grown upon almost any
soil, but it will not pay to make ap-
pies a speciality on thin sand nor on
wet clay. Better raise garden vege
tables, grass, or something that will
do better taan fruit trees. Apples do
better on deep, moist loan, and it
matters not ii there are TOO many
rocks for easy cultivation, though we
would prefer smooth land, other
things being equal. Some believe that
sand is poor for trees because it will
not hold the roots firmly enough
against strong winds. However this
may be, we know that deep, strong
loan is the delight of the apple. For
ones own use homegrown fruit may
properly figure at the retail price one
would have to pay for it, and at this
price one may afford to grow fruit
under difficulties. Extra manuring
and mulching will force crop of APP
PiCC IL OuA OAlAA Sc1uOs c1uO SuLLOlCuU
draining will render wet clay produc-
tive.
The common error in setting trees
for home use is in setting too many,
and especially too many early varie-
ties. IT we buy of tree agents, they
show US many kinds, all of which
seem desirable. So, perhaps we set
an Astrachan, Porter, q Craven
stein, q Sweet Bough, an Early Will
Jams, and may be half g. dozen other
kinds; or several trees of the same
kind, and when they come into bear
ing we find ten or twenty times as
much fruit as we can use or give away.
The season for using summer and fall
apples is short, while the winter vari-
cites may be in use from November to
July. So we should guard against
setting too many fall apples.
Notes.
Potato vines (which contain a large
quantity of potash) should be care
fully raked up and added to the COM
post or manure heap. If in green
condition they will quickly decom-
pose, and should, therefore, not be al
lowed to dry on the rows after the
crop is dug.
Seed corn for next year should be
selected from the best stalks, and only
the choicest ears and grains should be
chosen. The ears should be kept
thoroughly dry and hung where they
will not freeze, and damp place must
be avoided.
A practical farmer, who burns Doth
coal and wood in different stoves,
makes practice of mixing the ashes
and applying all on his young orchard
in the spring. He believes that the
potash of the wood ashes is effective
In small quantities, and that in addi.
ter much more absorptive of ammonia
or nitric acid from the atmosphere.
AS the winter is the time when a
large quantity of ashes are made, some
place should be provided for keeping
them dry and free from moisture un-
til spring.
The late sweet corn should be dried
for winter use. If preferred, however,
it may be cooked and scalded in glass.
alright jars. Lima beans will also
keep in q green condition if treated IN
the same manner.
1t is much better when blowing the
ground late in the fall, to leave the
ridges in the rough condition instead
of narrowing, as the frost will exert
more complete disiItegration of the
clods. By late blowing, especially af-
ter frost, the cut worms will be de-
stroyed and the land mole easily
cross-plowed the following spring.
Cement floors are not rat-proof un-
less pounded glass be mixed with the
cement before the laying of the floor.
The ordinary glass Stag from theglass
factories is excellent for the purpose,
and will cost but little, as it is usually
thrown away as refuge.
Wood lands are usually those which
are most benefited by the application
of wood ashes; hence the latter should
always be utilized and not allowed to
lie around the yard in unsightly
heaps.